Mario Holguín questions the effectiveness of mobility policy after six years of management
The head of the Road Safety Secretariat of the Fuerza del Pueblo (SESVIALFP), Mario Holguín, has called into question the results of the current mobility policy implemented by the Government. According to the leader, after six years of administration, the substantial investments in infrastructure and transport should be reflected in a tangible decrease in deaths, serious injuries, and risks on Dominican roads.
Although Holguín recognizes the relevance of modernizing public transport and improving national connectivity, he emphasizes that the construction of works should not be the only indicator of success. For the leader, the primary objective of any public policy in this area must guarantee the safety of citizens above the speed of travel.
An infrastructure that allows you to arrive faster but does not guarantee arriving alive cannot constitute the final objective of a public mobility policy.
Mario Holguín, head of SESVIALFP
Beyond the kilometers built
The political leader described measuring progress exclusively by the number of kilometers of roads, bridges, or transport stations inaugurated as insufficient. In his analysis, he maintains that it is imperative for authorities to report on the actual reduction of road accidents and the effective protection of vulnerable users such as pedestrians and motorcyclists.
- Need to implement safe speeds and protected crossings.
- Improvement in intersection design and universal accessibility.
- Attention to the transport sector’s demands regarding road safety education and vehicle fleet renewal.
Transparency and use of resources
A central point of Holguín’s criticism is financial management. According to a survey conducted by the secretariat he heads, international loans linked to the mobility sector have been contracted for an approximate amount of 2.46 billion dollars since 2020. Given these figures, the leader demands greater transparency regarding costs, terms, and, above all, the social benefits obtained.
Holguín also pointed out the institutional instability, recalling that five directors have passed through the transit regulatory body in the same period, which, in his view, has prevented the consolidation of a long-term strategy. Finally, the representative of the Fuerza del Pueblo reiterated that, beyond concrete works, the true legacy of a mobility administration must be measured by the lives protected and the risks eliminated on the country’s roads.
